Haven sweeps PHS

The Haven girls and boys showed why they are ranked in 3A on Friday night, sweeping the Pratt High Greenbacks.

Haven sweeps PHS

The Haven girls and boys showed why they are ranked in 3A on Friday night, sweeping the Pratt High Greenbacks.

Pratt’s girls traveled to Haven hoping to get back on the winning track, but the fifth-ranked Wildcats came to play. The Haven ladies used a combination 1-3-1 trapping zone with an aggressive man to man to hold the Greenbacks to just 29 points on 8 for 44 shooting. Many of the shots were short-range, but the rim seemed to have a lid on it. The Wildcats hit just two more field goals than Pratt but were 14/25 from the line. The Greenbacks went 11/16 from the charity stripe. Leading the scoring for the Pratt was Payton Hoeme with 15, but no other Pratt player would be in double figures. The loss drops the Greenbacks to 1-3 on the year. Pratt’s team defense was pretty solid for most of the night but the ladies will have to find more scorers to take the pressure off the middle. Coach Rausch continues to work on rotations and personnel to find that combination of scoring and defense. “The parts are there but youth and inexperience are factors that hurt us against good teams,” he said. “We just need to get in the gym and get in some reps”. Pratt’s girls next opponent is Kingman at home on Tuesday and the Greenbacks will finish up with Hays on Thursday before Christmas break.

The Greenbacks lost to the undefeated 6-0 state ranked (5th in 3A) Haven Wildcats by the most narrow of margins 47-45 Friday night as Jed Beachy hit a baseline 12 foot pull-up jumper with five seconds to go in the game for the margin of victory. The game was played at frantic pace with both teams pressing full-court for the majority of the game. The first quarter saw Haven get off to an early five point lead. During the second the Greenbacks pulled to with two as Thomas Mayberry and Garret Smith scored eleven of the fifteen Greenback points. After the break, Skylar Dean and Chase Hageman carried the Greenbacks in the third quarter as they combined for twelve points. During the fourth the Greenbacks played from behind for the majority of the quarter. Drew Dobbs hit a big shot to pull the Greenbacks to within two 44-42 with three minutes to go in the game. After the Wildcats hit a free throw, Garret Smith followed with a three off an assist from Thomas Mayberry to tie the game at 45 all. Both teams had several opportunities in the following minute with neither team hitting a shot until Beachy hit the game winner.

"I was really pleased with our effort and intensity tonight by everyone who played," commented head coach David Swank. “For the most part, we attacked the Wildcat press through the middle of floor. Thomas Mayberry did an an excellent job hitting the open man and creating great shot opportunities for Chase Hageman, Skylar Dean and Garret Smith. “

“Our seniors had an awesome night leading and having great moments in a big-time road atmosphere,” Swank continued. “Our underclassmen really battled as numerous Greenbacks had quality minutes including Adam Bartel, Drew Dobbs, Shawn Ramos, Christian Kurz, Liam Kahmeyer, Spencer Sullivan and Josh Shumway. I thought they all played extremely hard. I appreciated their efforts and execution against the Haven pressure defense.”

“Obviously, we did not shoot the ball well from the free throw line and that did make a difference in the outcome of the game,” Swank concluded. “I loved our effort and improved execution tonight, it was just unfortunate that someone had to lose.”

Tuesday night, the Greenbacks continue with their brutal December schedule hosting the Kingman Eagles.